Morning, August 4
Go To Evening Reading
“The people that do know their God shall be strong.”
Daniel 11:32
Every believer understands that to know God is the highest and best
form of knowledge; and this spiritual knowledge is a source of strength to the Christian. It strengthens his faith . Believers are constantly spoken of in the Scriptures as being persons
who are enlightened and taught of the Lord; they are said to “have an unction from the Holy One,” and it is the Spirit’s peculiar office to lead them into all truth, and all this for the
increase and the fostering of their faith. Knowledge strengthens love , as well as faith. Knowledge opens the door, and then through that
door we see our Saviour. Or, to use another similitude, knowledge
paints the portrait of Jesus, and when we see that portrait then we
love him, we cannot love a Christ whom we do not know, at least, in
some degree. If we know but little of the excellences of Jesus, what
he has done for us, and what he is doing now, we cannot love him much;
but the more we know him, the more we shall love him. Knowledge also
strengthens hope . How can we hope for a thing if we do not know of its existence?
Hope may be the telescope, but till we receive instruction, our ignorance
stands in the front of the glass, and we can see nothing whatever;
knowledge removes the interposing object, and when we look through
the bright optic glass we discern the glory to be revealed, and anticipate
it with joyous confidence. Knowledge supplies us reasons for patience . How shall we have patience unless we know something of the sympathy
of Christ, and understand the good which is to come out of the correction
which our heavenly Father sends us? Nor is there one single grace
of the Christian which, under God, will not be fostered and brought
to perfection by holy knowledge. How important, then, is it that we
should grow not only in grace, but in the “knowledge” of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.